Does Cetirizine Help With Food Allergies

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables

One sure way to improve your diet is to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, Silvers says. Their natural anti-inflammatory effects can help relieve allergies. An Italian study supports the theory. Researchers looked at the diets of more than 4,000 children over the course of 12 months and found that kids who ate lots of cooked vegetables, tomatoes, and citrus fruits were less likely to experience wheezing, shortness of breath, and other symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Children who ate more bread and margarine, on the other hand, were more likely to wheeze.

Mild And Severe Symptoms

• Nose: itchy or runny nose, sneezing
• Mouth: itchy mouth
• Skin: a few hives, mild itch
• Gut: mild nausea or discomfort

Severe symptoms include:

• Lung: shortness of breath, wheezing, repetitive cough
• Heart: pale, blue, faint, weak pulse, dizzy
• Throat: tight, hoarse, trouble breathing/swallowing
• Mouth: significant swelling of the tongue or lips
• Skin: many hives over body, widespread redness
• Gut: repetitive vomiting or severe diarrhea
• Psychological: feeling something bad is about to happen, anxiety, confusion

How Effective Is Cetirizine & What Are Its Side Effects

Cetirizine is a kind of antihistamine which helps in reducing the natural chemical histamine present in the body. Histamine produces the symptoms of runny nose, water eyes, itching and sneezing.

Cetirizine is effectively used for treating flu or allergy symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, itching or sneezing. Cetirizine can also be used for treating swelling and itching caused by hives.

Cetirizine can have severe side effects that might impair your reactions or thinking. Ensure that you do not take this medicine before driving or before anything that requires you to be alert and awake. Avoid drinking alcohol. Consumption of alcohol prior to this medicine might increase the side effects of cetirizine.

If you are taking any other medicine which might make you sleepy any medicines like muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, medicine for anxiety, depression or seizures, narcotic pain medicine, allergy medicine, ensure that you tell your doctor about it. These medicines might add to your sleepiness which is caused by Cetirizine. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse or if you have fever, immediately see your doctor.

If you are allergic to cetirizine, you MUST NOT use this medicine. Ensure that you tell your physicians about all your medical conditions before taking this medicine. Senior citizens might take lower dose than the normal one. In any case, follow your doctors instructions.

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Does Using Zyrtec For My Cats Allergies Really Have No Side Effects

According to VcaHospitals, Many veterinarians and studies show there are fewer side effects with Zyrtec than other available antihistamines on the market in the treatment of allergies. Sleepiness is common in cats with higher doses.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, This study on nine cats reported zero side effects.

What Are The Side Effects Of Cetirizine

There are a few side effects of Cetirizine. If you are suffering from any of the following or have any of these symptoms of allergic reactions such as swelling of tongue, face, throat or lips, difficulty in breathing, get medical help immediately. If you are suffering from any of serious side effects like following, stop using this medicine and see your doctor at once:

• Not defecating at all or urinating less than always
• Vision problems
• Uncontrolled shaking or weakness
• Uneven, pounding or fast heartbeat.

Some Less Serious Side Effects of Cetirizine are:

• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Dry mouth or sore throat or cough
• Constipation, nausea or headache.

Generally, Cetirizine medicine does not cause any drowsiness. However, this medicine works differently on different people. Hence, precautions MUST be taken before operating any machinery or driving until you know all the effects of cetirizine.

It may cause cough, abdominal pain, sore throat or headache in some people.

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When Should I Go To The Er

Without medical treatment, allergic reactions can be life-threatening. Go to the ER or call 911 if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Hives all over your body.
• Tingling hands, feet or lips.
• Throat swelling that constricts your airway.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Food allergies occur when your body mistakenly triggers an immune response to certain foods. This immune response, or allergic reaction, can cause a variety of symptoms such as hives, swelling or difficulty breathing. In severe cases, you may experience a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Once you know what foods you are allergic to, the best way to manage your allergy is to avoid those specific foods. Healthcare providers can prescribe medications that reverse anaphylaxis and other allergy symptoms.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/24/2021.

References

Which Food Allergies Are Most Common

In adults, they include:

• Tree nuts, such as walnuts
• Shellfish, including shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab

For children, the food allergens that most often cause problems are:

• Milk
• Peanuts

Adults usually don’t lose their allergies, but children do sometimes. Kids are more likely to outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and soy than to peanuts, fish, and shrimp.

The foods that you’ll react to are often those that you eat regularly. In Japan, for example, you’ll find rice allergy. In Scandinavia, codfish allergy is common.

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Which Is More Sedating Zyrtec Or Claritin

Zyrtec and Claritin are second-generation antihistamines. Second-generation antihistamines were first developed in the 1990s to provide allergy relief without the unwanted side effect of sedation common to first-generation antihistamines such as promethazine and diphenhydramine. However, it soon became apparent that not all second-generation antihistamines were equal when it came to not causing drowsiness or affecting other thought processes. Cetirizine was significantly more likely than loratadine to cause drowsiness and have a negative effect on motivation in one study of 60 patients with allergic rhinitis.

Common Questions About Cetirizine

Cetirizine is a type of medicine called an antihistamine. When you come into contact with something you’re allergic to, such as pollen, animal hair or fur, your body produces a chemical called histamine.

Usually histamine is a useful substance, but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, a running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.

Cetirizine blocks the effects of histamine and reduces these symptoms.

You should start to feel better within an hour.

It depends on why you’re taking cetirizine.

You may only need to take it for a short time or as a one-off dose.

For example, if you have a reaction to an insect bite, you may only need to take cetirizine for a day or two.

You may need to take cetirizine for longer if you’re taking it to prevent symptoms for example, to stop hay fever when the pollen count is high.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure how long you need to take cetirizine for.

Cetirizine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time.

However it’s best to take cetirizine only for as long as you need to. If you take it regularly over a long period there’s a very small chance of severe itching if you stop treatment suddenly.

If you’ve been taking cetirizine every day for a long time, talk to your doctor before stopping it.

It’s best not to drink alcohol while you’re taking cetirizine as it can make you feel sleepy.

You can eat and drink normally while taking cetirizine.

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When To Call 911

Seek emergency care if some or all of the following occur after eating a suspected food allergen:

• Shortness of breath
• Severe skin rash or hives
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
• A weak, rapid pulse
• Difficulty swallowing
• A feeling of impending doom

A food allergy reaction typically occurs within 20 to 30 minutes after consumption of the food. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to shock, coma, heart or respiratory failure, and death.

Side effects of epinephrine include rapid heartbeats, sweating, shakiness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and anxiety. Epinephrine should be used with caution in people with severe heart conditions, but its benefits in treating anaphylaxis almost universally outweigh the risks.

How Are Food Allergies Treated

When you know what foods you are allergic to, the best approach is to strictly eliminate those foods from your diet and to have emergency medications including epinephrine autoinjectors available at all times in case of accidental ingestion and reaction. Its important to seek emergency medical care immediately after using an epinephrine autoinjector. Wearing a medical alert identification indicating your food allergies is also recommended.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines that reduce your allergic reaction symptoms. These medicines include:

• Epinephrine , a lifesaving emergency medication that immediately begins reversing symptoms of anaphylaxis.
• Antihistamines, medications that reduce itching or congestion.
• Corticosteroids to reduce swelling if you have a severe allergic reaction.

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What Is The Proper Way To Dispose Of Unused Or Expired Zyrtec Products

Do NOT dispose of any ZYRTEC® product by emptying it into your sink, toilet or storm drain. Check to see if your pharmacy or community has a take-back program in which you can drop off your expired or unused medicine for them to dispose for you. Otherwise, place your medicine in an unmarked, sealed container and dispose of the container in your household trash. Visit the FDA website for more information.

How Can I Avoid Food Allergy Triggers

To avoid the foods you are allergic to, you must carefully check the ingredient labels on food products. Food manufacturers must clearly state on the label if a product contains any of the eight most common food allergens.

Some labels use precautions such as may contain or made on shared equipment. If you have any questions about what you can and cant eat, ask your healthcare provider.

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What Causes Food Allergies

Food allergies happen when the immune system the body’s defence against infection mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat.

As a result, a number of chemicals are released. It’s these chemicals that cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Almost any food can cause an allergic reaction, but there are certain foods that are responsible for most food allergies.

In children, the foods that most commonly cause an allergic reaction are:

• milk
• fish
• shellfish

Most children that have a food allergy will have experienced eczema during infancy. The worse the child’s eczema and the earlier it started, the more likely they are to have a food allergy.

In adults, the foods that most commonly cause an allergic reaction are:

• peanuts
• tree nuts such as walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds and hazelnuts
• fruits such as apples and peaches
• fish
• shellfish such as crab, lobster and prawns

It’s still unknown why people develop allergies to food, although they often have other allergic conditions, such as asthma, hay fever and eczema.

Are Zyrtec And Benadryl The Same

Zyrtec and Benadryl are both antihistamines that help relieve allergy symptoms. Benadryl is a first-generation antihistamine and tends to cause more side effects. Zyrtec is a second-generation antihistamine and causes fewer side effects.

Other common newer antihistamines you may see on the shelf include Claritin , Allegra , and Xyzal .

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Tests For Food Allergies

If your doctor thinks a specific food allergy is likely, you may get tests to measure your allergic response.

One of these is a scratch puncture test. The doctor or technician puts a drop of a solution made with the food on your forearm or back. Then they’ll prick your skin with a needle through the drop and watch for swelling or redness.

Skin tests are quick, simple, and relatively safe. But experts don’t recommend making a diagnosis based on a skin test alone. Your skin test may show an allergy to a food without you having allergic reactions when eating that food. So your doctor will diagnose a food allergy only when you have a positive skin test and a history of reactions to the same food.

If you’re extremely allergic and have severe reactions, skin testing could be dangerous. It also can’t be done if you have severe eczema. Instead, your doctor can use blood tests such as RAST and ELISA that measure the amount of food-specific IgE. These tests may cost more, and results take longer. Again, a positive result doesn’t necessarily mean you have a food allergy.

A food challenge, or feeding test, is another way to confirm or rule out an allergy. It’s done with your doctor there. You eat small servings of food every 15-30 minutes that have increasing amounts of the suspected allergen in them until you either have a reaction or eat a meal-sized portion.

Food Allergy: Home Remedy Or Emergency Room

• Prevention

Overview

Food allergies can be deadly, but not all physical reactions to food require a visit to the emergency room. Knowing when to call 911 and when you can treat a reaction with things in your home could save your life, as well as some money.

As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies, according to Food Allergy Research & Education. And these numbers are rising. Between 1997 and 2011, food allergies in children increased by 50 percent, and now they affect one in every 13 kids. Their prevalence is alarming, as are their potential effects.

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We Have Multiple Cats But Only One Has Food Allergies

Not every cat will have the same allergies or allergies period. However, in a multi-cat household, you should feed all of the cats the same food and treats if possible.

Otherwise, you might need to feed your non-allergic cats in an area off-limits to your cat with food allergies.

Some cats have severe allergies to the point where breathing in the allergen will trigger a response. In multiple pet households, this can pose a real threat.

One of our staff has a dog with severe food allergies, for example. He cant have chicken, turkey, pork, beef, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, or rice. When she adopted a cat, she had to feed the cat a similar ingredient diet to avoid triggering her dogs allergies.

It doesnt take much either to set off their allergies, so cross contamination is a real concern for your kittys overall wellbeing.

Important Information About All Medicines

Further reading and references

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Is Zyrtec Or Benadryl Better

Both drugs are similarly effective, but Zyrtec may cause less drowsiness. Zyrtec still can cause drowsiness as well, though. Since both medications are available OTC, you can try one to see how it improves your symptoms. Your pharmacist can help you select an appropriate product. Be sure to inform your pharmacist of any medical conditions you have and any medications you take.

The Rise In Food Allergy Cases

The number of people with food allergies has risen sharply over the past few decades and, although the reason is unclear, other allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis have also increased.

One theory behind the rise is that a typical child’s diet has changed considerably over the last 30 to 40 years.

Another theory is that children are increasingly growing up in “germ-free” environments. This means their immune systems may not receive sufficient early exposure to the germs needed to develop properly. This is known as the hygiene hypothesis.

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Getting The Most From Your Treatment

• Most people only need to take an antihistamine for a short while when they have symptoms. You should stop taking cetirizine once your symptoms have eased.
• Although cetirizine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine, it can still cause drowsiness in a few people. If you are affected by drowsiness, do not drive, do not use a bicycle, and do not use tools or machines.
• If you drink alcohol while you are on cetirizine, be aware of its effects on you and do not drink more than moderate amounts. Alcohol can increase the risk of side-effects from antihistamines.
• If you are having an operation, or any treatment or tests , make sure you say that you are taking an antihistamine.
• If you buy any medicines ‘over the counter’, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with an antihistamine. This is because a number of other medicines can increase the risk of side-effects.

Which Is More Effective For Allergic Rhinitis

Trials have shown both Zyrtec and Claritin are significantly more effective than placebo for reducing symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis, hay fever, and other allergies. Trials have not consistently shown that one antihistamine is more effective than another, although one trial did report cetirizine reducing symptoms to a greater extent.

Intranasal or ophthalmic antihistamines have a quicker onset of action than oral antihistamines however, need to be administered several times daily. In people with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and predominantly eye symptoms, ophthalmic antihistamines work much quicker and are much more effective than any other form of treatment. Intranasal antihistamines are as effective as intranasal cromolyn, intranasal nedocromil, and leukotriene modifiers in seasonal allergic rhinitis however, are not as effective at relieving nasal congestion and other symptoms as intranasal glucocorticoids.

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